ThisNiceLife OTG No.4

On The Go in Japan

Serene views like this one from Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto are possible to enjoy if you’re willing to getup at the crack of dawn or before. Absolutely worth it.

I’m just back from Japan and I don’t think it will surprise anyone who’s a regular reader to hear that I found it to be absolutely incredible. I spent 7 days in Tokyo and 4 days in Kyoto, primarily to cover a couple hotels, but I also had plenty of time to myself to explore both cities, and explore I did.

There will be a number of pieces coming in November that breakdown my experience in both cities in detail. I’m talking dedicated GoogleMaps for specific neighborhoods that feature retail, F&B, and cultural recommendations. Building out maps like these has long been something I enjoy doing and I’m regularly asked share them with friends. For example, my NYC french fry map is a popular one that’s ever evolving. In addition to neighborhood guides for both Kyoto and Tokyo there will be a feature on the three properties I stayed at, relative newcomers Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto and The Tokyo EDITION Toranomon, as well as the iconic Tokyo outpost of The Peninsula.

Lastly, I’m going to do a retail recap that includes every store I went to and everything I bought while there. I’ll be previewing some of this in the photos below, but the shopping in Tokyo(and Kyoto on a smaller scale) deserves its own dedicated post. London, Paris, Milan and Manhattan all have a solid claim to the title of “best city for shopping” but now having been, as far as I’m concerned Tokyo firmly wears the crown.

“ThisNiceLife OTG” posts will remain available to all as something of window into my world, so I hope you’ll consider sharing this with friends and family who may also like the newsletter. As always, thanks for your continued support!

I can only imagine how stunning this view of the Meguro River in the neighborhood of Aobadai is during cherry blossom season.

I didn’t walk out empty handed, but I didn’t walk out broke either.

So much inspiration in this store. Wonderful to have finally made it in, definitely a must hit for the menswear crowd when in Tokyo.

Coffee options abound in Tokyo and while you can’t really go wrong, Allpress in neighborhood of Hirano is definitely very right.

Everyday offers amazing sights, Sundays are especially good for car spotting.

As luck would have it, The Peninsula’s 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II came back from the shop the day after I checked in and I got to go for a spin around the block…as a passenger of course.

If one isn’t riding in a vintage Rolls Royce, a Toyota Alphard is the next best thing.

Japan’s ability to take American things and make them better will never cease to amaze me. Finding a proper East Coast bagel breakfast sandwich at Radio Bagel in Kyoto was the most pleasant of surprises.

Should you visit Kyoto, I hope you get at least one breezy, rainy night where you can go walk the quiet alleyways of Gion.

Rainy days in Tokyo’s Ginza district aren’t all bad either. No matter the weather the city is a street photographer’s dream.

See above caption.

I have a new favorite bar. Mixology Heritage in Tokyo. More on this amazing place specializing in vintage spirits to come in a future newsletter.

Substack has informed me I’m near the email length limit, so I’m going to leave off here. Look forward to sharing so much more from Kyoto and Tokyo in the coming weeks, as well as the remaining installments of “Autumn Style” and a Vermont to Tennessee road-trip recap from the seat of a new personal acquisition.

Enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

-Andrew

That’s All Ya’ll!